Vector unit

Hair Removal Methods Do-It-Yourself Electrolysis
#21

Gel and patch sellers UK this is a good one see electrode gel
http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/accessories.html

or US

http://www.med-worldwide.com/unipatch-im-up239.html
This patch is a better long term one that is non vector - use with the gel - or a layer of damp sponge dipped in salt water between the patch and electrode to prevent skin marking - hold it in place with a velcro arm strap from the same suppliers.

http://www.qualitymedicalsupplies.com/page/QMS/CTGY/TE-CG

hope this helps <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

#22

Dear James

I live in Israel (220volts)
Two questions
a. What watt transformer do i need?
b.Do the tweezers work? whats this probe business that you mentioned. Iw anted to remove hair without a needle(painless).Thus I thought of the vectoy system. am i wrong?
Is there any way of calling you to have a short friendly chat?
tuvia

#23

It was nice talking to you. I hope all your questions were answered.

#24

Bumping this thread, as I talked to hairybastard via PM, and he stated this vector unit he bought for $200 almost a year ago is working very well for him. He said he is using it on his self and most of the hair he treats just doesn’t come back. Why so much hate towards the device? Isn’t Galvanic slower, better kill rate, but less chance of hurting yourself? I am actually thinking about buying one of these vector units, they don’t even appear to be large or conspicuous.

I guess I’m confused

#25

The Vector unit gets bad press because it’s primarily sold as a transdermal unit, which is a scam. Only after modification (buying a probe stylus to insert into the machine instead of the transdermal patches), does it have any chance at being effective.

The unit that sells for $200 is basically a rheostat (about $2), a simple meter, and some wire in a box with a switch. About $30 retail worth of parts and then you still have to spend about $40 to buy a professional stylus and probes.

However, it’s still a sturdier way to go than the One Touch and it will produce permanent results (with the modification). If you can’t put together your own unit (or don’t want to hassle collecting the pieces) or find a smoking deal on a professional unit on ebay for a pro unit, then it can certainly suffice.

#26

Chuck thanks.i actually sent hairy bastard a Pm asking him if his pleasant experiences were with the tweezers :slight_smile: or with a needle/stylet :frowning:

Its just that i hate stylets…

#27

Guys,

so far i should say i am getting very pleasant experiences from Divineskin (the manufactuers of vector). They claim it works on most people and surprisingly, without me even asking, they offered me the money back when i told them that i did not feel a tingling effect. Do we really all think that the vector with tweezers doesnt work?

I quote below from their email to me (after they were also kind enough to call me and discuss with me my problems with the vector)

Dear …
…

I did some research and found that there are different tolerances to current on different parts of the body and it is very common to feel more current on some parts that on others. This is why the Vector comes with several power levels in order to ensure that treatment can be performed anywhere on the body.

Unfortunately there are some rare cases of very low body conductivity where not even the highest settings will cause a tingling sensation, which may be your case. As we are not allowed to increase the power on the machine due to electricity safety regulations, unfortunately in these rare cases, effective results will not be seen with the current amount of power established on the system.

We recommend that you try using a larger amount of conductivity gel to see if perhaps this will aid in enhancing your body conductivity. Please make sure you are placing the electrode patch on the body and that it is attached with the alligator clip and wire to the machine. Also, you may check all the sockets and plug-ins to make certain there are no faulty connections. If this does not help, however, then we ask that you please follow the instructions below in order to receive a refund for the Vector Electrolysis System which you purchased…

#28

I really don’t have the time for the normal exhaustive reply to this nonsense. The answer can be found on HairTell. In short, NO AMOUNT of conductive gel will make so called TransDermal Electrolysis work. I wish it could, because then I could clear people even faster than I do now, and therefore have more clients, and actually do a full body in one day. Alas, it is not to be.

If someone has the time to cut and paste the info from HairTell that addresses this conductive gel thing, please help me out here.

It is like you have been told above, the greatest objection we have is that for less than $100 you could build a better machine than the one they sell for $200, that still requires you to spend an additional $40 just to get any good use out of it. If that is how you want to spend $240 plus shipping and tax, go ahead, just don’t think that you will get permanent hair removal rubbing your skin with electrified gel.

Seriously, if it were THAT easy, who would even consider LASER?

#29

The Vector “transdermal” option is a scam. Period. In fact, if you have promotional material from them claiming they transdermal version produces results, please send it to me so I can report them to the US Food and Drug Administration for adulteration and misbranding.

Here’s the FDA waring letter to a similar scam device:

http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g4959d.htm

The Super Phaser Gold System with Transdermal Probes and Trancutaneous Patches is adulterated under section 501(f)(1)(B) in that it is a Class III device under section 513(f) and does not have an approved application for premarket approval in effect pursuant to section 515(a), or an approved application for an investigational device exemption under section 520(g).

The device is also misbranded under Section 502(0) in that a notice or other information respecting the new intended use of the device was not provided to the FDA as required by section 510(k) and 21 CFR 807.81(a) (3) (ii). The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) has not cleared patch or probe epilators for any indication.

For a product requiring premarket approval before marketing, the notification required by section 510(k) of the act is deemed to be satisfied when a premarket approval application (PMA) is pending before the agency, 21 CFR 807.81(b).

In 1995, American Hair Removal Systems, a company you were previously affiliated with, submitted a 510 ( k ) [redacted] for the AHRS Surface Electrolysis System, a modified patch epilator device that you apparently understood to require FDA clearance. However, CDRH’s Office of Device Evaluation (ODE) had numerous unanswered questions and could not clear the device. Your device applies diffuse energy to the site, whereas needle and tweezer epilators apply directed energy. CDRH’s ODE indicated a new protocol should be developed and sent you a [redacted] letter, notifying you that your submission was being withdrawn from the system and that all information should be re-submitted. FDA received no response to that notification.

Subsequently, absent FDA clearance, you marketed the device along with claims that the device is FDA cleared or approved. Appropriate data has not been submitted to support claims of no risk of infection, changes of pigmentation, no bruising, no scabbing, or no scarring, or that the procedure is painless. We have requested evidence to support these claims on several occasions but no information has been received from your firm.

Spare yourself a lot of wasted time. The patches have not been shown to work as claimed.

#30

hairhater1,

You keep asking the same questions and don’t want to hear the answers. Electronic tweeezers don’t work. Gel & Patches don’t work. The scammers selling such will tell you anything (mostly things that are not true) to get your money. Most will promise refunds that will never come (more lies). The people here on the forum having nothing to gain, so we tell you the truth: they don’t work. The scammers will lie because it’s profitable to do so.

It sounds like you’ve purchased the Vector unit already (since they are offering to give you your money back). If you hate using a probe, then you are wasting your time doing anything else with this unit. It’s you time to waste, so hopefully you’ll come back to this forum a year from now and tell the next doubters that indeed this device, when used with tweezers or patches, is a pure scam.

#31

Thanks guys.I think i comprhend what i got…

#32

It sounds that this machine will not work without modification. And it will not work as advertised with tweezers or patches and such. In fact, I don’t even know what you guys mean by tweezers, patches, and conductive gel. Sounds to me like that is above the surface treatments.

HOWEVER, if you buy needles and modify it to be used as a galvanic electrolysis device to my understanding you can achieve permanent results? Just trying to make sure, I’m not planning on purchasing one unless to use it for actual needle galvanic electrolysis. Is everyone afraid of needles or something and just wants to use it with tweezers or patches?

I am interested in buying one to try it out, as I hear Galvanic is the safest electrolysis if you don’t know what you are doing because it’s very hard to scar yourself. I don’t know how to modify it however? I suppose I can ask Hairybastard about that. It seems they have a good return program, so if push comes to shove I can just return it no big deal. Couldn’t hurt to give it a try. How does it compare to professional galvanic electrolysis? Similar power settings for permanency?

#33

The modification is easy. You buy the Vector unit. Then you go to a real electrolysis storefront and buy a professional stylus with a banana plug at the end. Purchase probes that work with the stylus also. Then you just plug it in where the patch or tweezers would plug in.

You could also buy a 9 volt battery, a $3 potentiometer from Radio Shack (10K-ohm) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062357&cp=&origkw=potentiometer&kw=potentiometer&parentPage=search , attach the stylus to one end and a wire to a salty sponge on the other (maybe a $10 foot switch in between) and have a unit that would be just as effective. The basic guts of a galvanic unit can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/hairfreethere/

I’d be wary of their return policy. There are many places that promise returns and you never actually get your money back. The offer is usually only good for 30 days and it will take you a lot longer than that to realize it doesn’t work as supplied (or even modified and it does work). If their policy was for 6 months to a year, they’d be out of business as almost all of them would come back. The only positive reviews you’ll read on the unit (as sold) are from the actual sellers pretending to be consumers.

#34

Soo for $3, I can actually get a galvanic machine that would have just as good results as professional electrolysis. I know it may be slower, but it would actually work? LOL Are you for real? That is somethin’ else

That is kind of funny that for $3 you are getting the same thing as a $250 machine.

#35

For $3 you are getting the basic guts of the Vector unit. You still need a power source (a 9V battery would do) and the professional stylus ($20) and probes ($20 for 50), both of which you’d also have to purchase in addition to the Vector unit. In addition you can put it in a box ($4) and add a foot switch ($10) plus some connectors, a bit of wire and a knob (maybe another $10). You still need to run a wire to your body as a contact, either with fancy pads, or a simple small kitchen sponge. Does that tell you that the Vector unit might be a bit overpriced for what it actually is (and I wouldn’t call the Vector a Professional electrolysis machine either just because they ask a ridiculous price)? The One Touch is only $30 and can produce the same results, although the unit will break before you’re done because they made it just a tad too fragile.

Yes I am for real. I have assembled the unit described at http://www.geocities.com/hairfreethere/ and have permanently removed all of my underarm and pubic hair.

It is slow on a kill per hour rate (which is probably about 50 to 100 once you get the hang of it). However the efficiency is about 90% (at least that’s been my experience). Since the time of treatment per hair is longer, you will feel pain if you start to overcook it and can stop prior to doing major damage; not possible for a beginner trying to figure out a burst of microflash. And since it’s pure galvanic, you don’t have to be quite as precise at hitting the exact bottom of the follicle as a blend or thermolysis treatment.

For DIY, you also need to consider your travel time to and from a professional’s office that you’re saving. For small areas, you may have enough spare time that it wouldn’t get in the way. For large areas, you’re looking at more work than it is probably worth. I don’t think I’ll tackle my legs, but I have done my feet, some chest hairs, some upper arm hairs and a few out of place hairs on my face. All gone permanently.

#36

If you really want to invest in a cheap epilator try this one:
It sells for $350 from Texas Electrolysis Supply

Biomak Epilator - By Uni-Probe

A Great Starter Unit

The Autoblend Lite is the perfect epilator for a student, a start-up practice, or a backup in an existing practice. An automatically-timed thermolysis machine, the Autoblend Lite offers a complete turnkey solution at the lowest price on the market.

• Automatically-timed thermolysis machine
• CE Approved
• FCC Approved
• Enamel coated steel case
• Dimensions - 6"D x 9"W x 3"H
• Weight - 5 lbs
• 1 Year Warranty on Epilator
• 60 Day Warranty on Accessories
• Comes with - Epilator, Uni-Probe “Stylus” anti-bacterial needle holder, Box of 50
• assorted Uni-Probes, and a foot-switch.
This is a Thermolysis machine, and if you combine it with the homemade battery circuit, you can actually have a blend machine.
Granted it is manual and does not have autosense circuits but it is far better than any version of Vector

Martha Montgomery
Puget Sound Electrology

#37

This sounds promising, however it says it is a Thermolysis only machine. I am not sure if I could do thermolysis or not, as I’ve read it requires more still. Does this machine work for galvanic too? I am willing to put in the time to learn how to do proper insertions on my own, as I’m going to be working mainly on my arms and maybe chest with a unit I would buy on my own.

I don’t really want to scar myself, or have it not work. From my understanding Galvanic is much harder to scar, and good for working as a beginner, and although slow has a high kill rate. Can this do Galvanic?

#38

I advise all Home Users to start with a blend machine using only galvanic, and then step up to the blend, and then try thermolysis if and only if they have mastered galvanic and blend to the point where they are ready for the instant action of thermolysis.

#39

I dunno, there’s seems to be a few naysayers here, who all happen to be licensed electrologists, hmmm, funny correalation :confused: Anyhew here’s a page I found on the FDA website about hair removal products:

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-hrem.html

Notice the section on tweezers and no mention of them not working. I’ll just have to try a pair… :grin:

#40

Many lay people have posted on the site the same opinion. Some have pointed out that for less than the price of the Vector unit one can make a better machine with parts purchased at Radio Shack.

As for tweezer machines “working” there is a difference between what the manufacturers advise the consumer as the “proper way to use the device” and the method of testing (that is using the device) in order to claim that the machine is “essentially equal” to regular electrolysis devices.

So if you buy one and use it, please make sure that you don’t cheat and use it with a needle, only use the tweezers to touch, hold or grasp the hairs, only use the electrode gel, and only use the patches. Don’t you dare cheat and use a probe to insert into the follicle.